Consist vs the individual engines

[rclanger]

I have two identical engines, DCC, purchased at the same time.  I understand that a consist is two or more engines with the same ID number.  So my question is the consist number different from each individual loco number?

The prototype may want to split a consist to use each loco differently.  For example what is needed for power is dictated by the tonnage to be pulled.  If a consist is not needed can one engine be cut from the consist and run independently without reprogramming?

I hope my question makes sense!

[rrinker]

 There are 3 ways to consist, so the answer to your questions is yes and no for all of them.

The simplest way to 'consist' is to program each decoder with the same address. If you do this, both locos will run together, but unless you reprogram the address on one, you will not be able to use them independently.

Next up is the command station assisted method of consisting (each DCC vendor calls this soemthign different). With this method, the command station 'remembers' what locos you add to a consist, and at any tiem you can remove a loco from the consist and it goes back to beign controlled by its individual number. With most systems, this consist address can be that of one of the locos in the consist, or it can be any other number not in use - say you have locos 100, 101, and 102, you can consist them and control all 3 with 100, 101, 102, or make something up like 999.

And finally there's advanced consisting, or CV19 consisting. CV19 in decoders that support is is used for a consist address, which can be 1-127. When there is a value other than 0 in CV19, the decoder responds to commands on that address rather than its own individual address. Setting CV19 back to 0 in a particular loco returns control to the loco's individual address.

some systems allow you to mix and match these methods for pretty much any possibility you can think of.

                                       --Randy

 

[jbinkley60]

rrinker

 There are 3 ways to consist, so the answer to your questions is yes and no for all of them.

The simplest way to 'consist' is to program each decoder with the same address. If you do this, both locos will run together, but unless you reprogram the address on one, you will not be able to use them independently.

Next up is the command station assisted method of consisting (each DCC vendor calls this soemthign different). With this method, the command station 'remembers' what locos you add to a consist, and at any tiem you can remove a loco from the consist and it goes back to beign controlled by its individual number. With most systems, this consist address can be that of one of the locos in the consist, or it can be any other number not in use - say you have locos 100, 101, and 102, you can consist them and control all 3 with 100, 101, 102, or make something up like 999.

And finally there's advanced consisting, or CV19 consisting. CV19 in decoders that support is is used for a consist address, which can be 1-127. When there is a value other than 0 in CV19, the decoder responds to commands on that address rather than its own individual address. Setting CV19 back to 0 in a particular loco returns control to the loco's individual address.

some systems allow you to mix and match these methods for pretty much any possibility you can think of.

                                       --Randy

I use command station based consisting.  I wish advanced consisting could have been designed for 4 digit addressing, where I could have used the lead engine as the consist address.  I know, I ask for too much...